Huntsville gazette., 1887-04-09

illuminated when Ruth returned, half
an hour later, with a tiny parcel, from
which she carefully extracted six sprays
of lily of the valley, and put them in
water.
''One, two, three, four, five, six,
said her father, who had come in be-
hind her. SIS your allowance played
out. Ruthie? l might have advanced
you few cents in consideration Of the
party"
mo, thank you, papa; I am a long
way from being insolvent Since / gave
up caramels am quite capitalist"
and Ruth vanished to take off herwrap-
pings.
That night when she came down stairs
dressed for the party the carriage was
already there, and DR.. Leslie and the
elder physician were in the library talk
ing about endemic fevers. She had
brought down several yards of cream
colored ribbon of the width which fash
ion dictated as the proper one for tying
bouquets. DR.. Murdoch looked on won
deringly as he watched Ruth tie the
huge bow around the tiny stems of the
lilies she had bought in the after
noon. He was about to silently
conclude that this was the latest
absurdity of feminine fashion, when he
caught sight of Leslie's crimson face,
and Ruth's demurely mischievous air.
"Will you take my bouquet, pleaseP
/ believe anu all ready now," said she,
rendering the ridiculous posy to Dr.
Leslie. "Good night, papa, or are you
going to sit up for me?" and the two
people started for the door.
Leslie took the flowers and escorted
Miss Murdoch to the carriage. He
entered after her, and shut the door
with single bang, instead of the half
dozen usually required by livery vehi-
cles.
''Miss Murdoch, VIII ere are your
roses?" said he quietly as the cab rolled
off.
81 took them back to the florist, and
this is what l got for them,'' was the
for a moment in the light from the
carriage lamp. Il wanted lilies, and
the quantity would make no difference,
as every body would know who sen:
Them" There was a very little sup
pressed triumph in the tone. but
otherwise it was perfectly common
place.
For moment or two neither spoke;
then DR.. Leslie said slowly: Except
that it would seem that l have been
lacking in respect to your wishes, the
public modification would matter very
little to me. I wanted to send you the
lilies, Miss Murdoch, but they asked
twenty dollars for bunch of respect
able size, and this week l have to make
the last payment of the money bor-
rowed for my education. | have strug-
gled hard to free myself from this debt,
that might honorably offer you my
love. ought not to speak of this, but
I had to tell you that your slightest
wish was dearer to me than life-than
all but honor. Why, Miss Murdoch!
why, Ruth!'' in a changed tone, for the
girl had burst into passionate tears,
''shall order the cab to drive home?"
NO" sobbed Ruth. ''I-didn't-
know = about = those = debts. L
thought-you-were m-mean and-Id
-teach-you-a-lesson. | do want
Toto" but the sentence was lost in
the noise of the cab, and one seat was
unoccupied the rest of the way.
When Dr. Leslie met Ruth at the
dressing-room door he thought that she
was lovelier than ever, in spite OF the
peculiar appearance of her lashes. The
long ribbon had disappeared, and the
lilies were tucked in her belt in an art.
ful fashion which did not even family
suggest that there should have been
more of them.
1t was q beatitic evening for at least
when it was over there was another
happy half-hour in the library with DIR.
Murdoch. Ruth related the story of the
lilies, and DR.. Leslie told of his hard boy
hood and his student years, how Ruth
had doubled the value of life by asking
for half of the modest income which he
had finally gained. The doctorla laughed
over the first story, but was very sober
during the second. At the end he
looked at the carpet, and said huskily:
II don't know that ! can do any
thing;;n then, with smile, ''Ruthie has
taken things into her own hands, as
usual, and l I- am very glad that you
sound on the question of typhoid =
OF course, after a few months, DR..
Murdoch's old sign was taken down,
and new one, reading Murdoch Il
Leslie" was put in its place; and of
course, 100, when the Junior partner
wants to please his wife he brings not
lilies of the valley, but Marechal Niels.
&C. F. g., in Demorest's Magazine.
February Earthquakes.
L